Machine for and method of making cigarettes



Jan. 29, 1957 J. HIMOFF MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING CIGARETTES 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1954 IN V EN TOR. 1J4 CK Mnopr Arr carver Jan.

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MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING CIGARETTES Filed June 28, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 AT OQNEY Jan. 29, 1957 .1. HIMOFF MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING CIGARETTES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 28, 1954 #3 wow 65.

I N V EN TOR. (/A Ck AIMOF Patented Jan. 2%, 1957 MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING CIGARETTES Jack Himoif, New York, N. Y., assignor to Hiinofl Machine Co. Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 28, 1954, Serial No. 439,557

25 Claims. (Cl. 13172) This invention relates to a machine for making cigarettes of the type which have at one end a tubular mouthpiece containing a filter and a tube of tissue paper extending from the mouthpiece and containing tobacco. It also relate to a method of making the same.

Heretofore the filter which may be in the form of a piece of cotton was blown into the empty cigarette tube through the tobacco end or front end of the tube. The cotton had to be blown through the entire length of the tissue paper tube before it reached the mouthpiece. One drawback with this procedure has been that the cotton had to travel a long way through the light tissue paper, and therefore, there was a possibility of damage to the tissue paper, and there was also a limitation in the amount of the filter material that could be blown in through the tissue paper end of the cigarette tube.

In accordance with the present invention means is provided to blow the cotton filter directly into the mouthpiece through the back or mouthpiece. end of the empty cigarette tube. In prior machines the empty cigarette tubes were fed to an intermittently rotating turret and the tube would move sequentially from one station to the next. In prior machines cotton was blown into the tissue end or front end of the tube in advance of the tobacco inserting station. In accordance with the present invention the cotton is blown into the back of the :cigarette tube through the mouthpiece part of the tube in advance of the tobacco inserting station, to simplify the operation of the cigarette machines. Furthermore, with applicants construction more cotton can be inserted into the mouthpiece because the cotton is inserted through the thicker short part of the cigarette tube, that is, the mouthpiece, whereas heretofore the cotton was inserted through the tissue paper part of the tube which is light and through which the cotton had to travel a long way. Thus, in prior machines the cotton was likely to injure the tissue paper unless only a. small amount of cotton was inserted.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, means for inserting a plunger through the tissue paper length of the cigarette tube to serve as 'a stop for the cotton blown into the mouthpiece so that the cotton will not enter the tissue paper part of the cigarette tube, said inserting means being synchronized with the operation of the intermittently moving turret and the filter blowing apparatus, so that the plunger may be removed after the filter is blown into the mouthpiece to permit the turret to move to a further station where the tobacco is inserted into the tissue paper end of the cigarette. The plunger in accordance with the present invention is hollow so that the air which blows the piece of cotton filter into the mouthpiece may pass through the hollow plunger and escape so as not to be trapped within the cigarette.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, means to clamp the mouthpiece of the cigarette tube and hold it steady while the piece of filter cotton is blown into the mouth piece.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the appended claims.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top cross-sectional view through a portion of the machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial top cross-sectional view of the machine at a higher level than Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a rear elevational view of the machine with parts in cross-section;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of some ture shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 7; 1

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the turret and showing the cigarette pusher and cigarette retriever in extended position;

"Fig. 12 is a partial side elevational view of the turret and illustrating the clamping mechanism for the mouthpiece of the cigarette;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged partial view of the structure shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 14-14 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a cigarette made with the machine embodying the invention; and

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 11.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a machine for making the cigarettes 11. The cigarette 11 (Fig. 15) comprises a mouthpiece 12 which may be made of the strucfrom a rolled strip of heavy paper or light cardboard.

Surrounding the mouthpiece 12 is a tissue paper tube 13 which covers the mouthpiece 12 and extends to one side thereof and therebeyond. Disposed within the portion of the tissue paper tube which extends beyond the mouthpiece 12 is the tobacco 14. Within themouthpiece 12 is a cotton filter piece 15.

The machine It) embodying this invention comprises a casing 16 (Fig. 1) having a front wall 17, a rear wall 18, and side walls 19 and 21). The bottom of the casing may be closed by a bottom Wall 21. The top of the casing may be open but closed by a suitable cover 22 (Fig. 2). The rear wall 13 is formed with a rearwardly extending horizontal boss 23 (Fig. 1) having a through opening 24, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Extending from the side wall 19 is a horizontal boss 25 'formed with a through opening 26. Wall 19 is furthermore formed near its upper end and near the front wall 17 with a through opening 27 (Fig. 2). Wall 20 is formed at a point opposite to the opening 27 with an opening 28 closed by a cap 29 which may be fixed in place by the studs 30. Wall 19 may furthermore be formed below the opening 27 with a through opening 31 in which is received a bushing '32. Said wall 19 is furthermore formed above and below the opening 31 with through openings 33 and 34, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The openings 31, 33 and 34 may be closed by a cap 35 fixed to the Wall 19 by screws or studs 36. The cap 35 is formed with a central opening 37 coaxial with and registering with the through opening in the bushing 32.

Wall 26 is formed with a pair of through openings 46 and 41 aligned with the openings 33 and 34, respectively. Said openings may be closed by a cap 42 by means of screws or studs 43.

The front wall 17 is formed with through opening M- (Fig. 1) above the level of the openings 33 and 40, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Attached to the rear wall 115 of the casing 16 is a secondary casing 45. Said casing 45 has side walls 46, a rear Wall 47 and top and bottom walls 48. The boss 23 projects into the casing 45. The casing 45 may be attached to casing 16 by means of studs 49 or in any other suitable manner. Passing through suitable hearings in the side walls 46 of casing 4-6 is a horizontal drive shaft 50 which may be rotated continuously in one direction by any suitable drive means (not shown). On shaft 50 and within casing 45 is a helical gear 51. Within the boss 23 are bushings 52. lournalled in said bushings is a horizontal shaft 53 disposed at right angles to and above drive shaft 50. Shaft 53 has a rear end projecting beyond the boss 23 into the casing 45 and a front end projecting forwardly into the casing 16. Screwed on the rear threaded end 54 of shaft 53 are lock nuts 55. On said shaft is a helical gear 56 meshing with the helical gear 51. It will be noted that the helical gear 56 is directly above the helical gear 51 and at right angles thereto. Between boss 23 and the helical gear 56 is a thrust bearing 57.

Extending upwardly from the bottom wall 21 of the cas1ng1 6 is a bearing 69 in which are mounted bushings 61 coaxial with the boss 23. The front end of the shaft 53 1s journalled in the bushing 61. Fixed to the shaft 53 for rotation therewith is a cam disc 63 disposed just in back of the bearing 60. Said cam disc 63 is formed at its rear face w th a cam groove 64, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Mounted on the front end of shaft 53 is an index cam 65 (Fig. 3). Cam 65 comprises a cylindrical portion 66 from which extends a ridge 67. Ridge 67 has a portion 68 (F1g. 4) extending somewhat less than 360 and disposed in a common plane at right angles to the axis of shaft 53. From one end of said portion 68 extends an inclined portion 69 (Fig. 4) going to one side, and from the other end of the portion 68 extends an inclined portion 70 parallel to the portion 69 and forming between them an inchned groove 76c. At the ends of said portions 69 and 71 are portions 69a and 76a parallel to and disposed on opposite sides of said portion 68. Cam 65 is fixed to rotate with the shaft 53. Between cam 65 and the boss or bearing 60 is a thrust bearing 70d. The operation of member 65 will be described hereinafter.

Within the through opening 26 on boss 25 (Fig. 1) are bushings 71. Journalled within the bushings 71 is a shaft 72. Shaft 72 has a reduced end 73 disposed within the casing 16. At its opposite end it has a reduced portron 74- projecting beyond boss 25. Extending beyond reduced portion 73 is a threaded end 75. On portion 73 is an indexing wheel '76 (cooperative with cam 65) which may be fixed to the shaft 73 by pin 77. Screwed on the threaded end 75 of the shaft 72 is a nut 78 pressing a washer 79 against the hub of the Wheel 76. Wheel 76 is formed adjacent its periphery with a plurality of equiangularly placed through openings 131B in each of which is fixed a pin 81 projecting to one side of the disc or wheel. A circle passing through the axes of the pins 81 is tangent at the top to a horizontal plane passing through the axis of shaft 53. Pins 81 may successively pass through the groove 700. Thus, as the indexing cam 65 rotates, pins 81 will be successively moved through groove The to intermittently rotate the dial indexing wheel 76 to thereby give the shaft 72 an intermittent rotative movement. As the 4 indexing cam rotates, a pin 81 will enter one end of the groove 76c and move through said groove to its opposite end thereby causing angular rotation of the dial indexing wheel 76.

Received on the reduced portion 74 of the shaft 72 is a collar 85. Mounted on the collar 85 is a turret wheel 86. Said turret wheel 86 has a central hub 87 received on the reduced portion of the collar 85. Portion 74 of shaft 72 has a threaded outer end 88 to which is screwed a nut 89 which serves to press a washer 90 against the hub 87 to press it against a flange on collar 85. Extending from the hub 87 is a web 91 carrying a cylindrical outer portion 92. Said portion 92 is formed with a plurality of parallel equi-angularly spaced grooves 93 (Figs. 1 and 11). There are as many grooves 93 on the turret 36 as there are pins 51 on the dial indexing wheel 76. The turret thus moves intermittently following the movement of the indexing dial wheel 76.

it will be noted that the spacings of the ends of the groove 760 is such as to move each pin 81 through an angle of 10 when 36 pins are employed in the indexing wheel 76, so that each pin will successively pass through the groove 76c. The cigarette tubes 11 are fed to the notches 93 at the top of the turret 86 and the turret is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 12. The notches 93 as shown in Fig. 11 extend to one side of the turret 86 but terminate short of the opposite side of the turret. Thus the width of the cylindrical portion 92 of the turret is somewhat greater than the length of the notches 93. The length of the cigarette tube is equivalent to the widh of the cylindrical portion 92. The tubes are led into the notches with the mouthpiece end extending beyond the notches 93.

Means is provided to blow a filter piece 15 into the mouthpiece end of each cigarette tube at a predetermined station indicated as station 1. The filter piece 15 is cut from a rod of cotton or other filter material 1551 (see Fig. 6). Means is provided to cut the filter pieces 15 from the cotton rod 15a and to blow it directly into the filter end or mouthpiece of the cigarette tube at station 1 inter-' mittently, and while the turret 86 is stationary, so that the filter is inserted into each cigarette tube as it comes to station 1.

To this end there is fixed on the drive shaft 50 a cam 95 (Fig. 6) located at right side of casing 16, looking at Fig. 1. Cam 95 has a small cam bump 96 at one point. Fixed to any suitable support (not shown) and located likewise at the right side of casing 16 is an air valve fitting 97 having an air inlet 98 to receive air under pressure from the tube 99. Pivoted to the fitting 97 as at 100 is an arm 161 carrying a cam follower 102 adapted to be raised by the cam bump 96 each time the cam 95 makes one rotation. The arm 101, as it moves upwardly, is adapted to press a valve stem 103 to open a valve to permit air from tube 99 to pass through an outlet 104. Attached to the outlet 104 is a conduit 165, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Mounted on any suitable support is bracket 106 (Figs. 6, 9, 10). Said bracket 106 comprises a web 107 which may be provided with bolts 1% to attach it to any suitable support. Said bracket 106 is furthermore formed with a longitudinal groove 109 open at the top and formed with side walls 116 and 111. Fixed to the top edges of the side walls 110 and 111 as by screws 112 is a top plate 113 (see Figs. 6 and 10). Extending from the side walls 111 is an arm 114 to which is pivoted as at 115 a lever 116. Said lever 116 has an upwardly extending arm 117 the upper end of which is connected by a coil tension spring 118 to any suitable fixed support to urge lever 116 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction looking at Fig. 6 of the drawing. On arm 117 of the lever 116 is a follower 119 adapted to contact the outer edge 120 of a cam 121 mounted on the drive shaft 50 for rotation therewith. The cam 121 has a Well 122 extending.

through an angle of somewhat more than 90 Lever unmeshthe gears 166, 161.

116 has an arm 125 extending down below pivot 115. Connected thereto by pin and slot connection 126 is a sliding bar 127 slidably mounted within the groove 109 and below plate 113.

It will now be understood that as the cam 121 rotates, the sliding bar 127 will be oscillated back and forth on a bracket 126. Attached to one end of the sliding bar 127 is a knife 128 having a knife edge 129 at one end. The knife 128 is attached to one end of the bar 127 by a screw 130. Said screw also serves to attach to the bar, a plate 131 having at one end a hook 132 extending be yond and spaced from the knife edge 129. Fixed within the groove 189 as by screws 133 is a plate 134. Screw 133 also fixes to the plate 134 fixed knife blade 135 formed with a cutting edge 136. The blade 135 is dis posed just below kniie 128. The cutting edge 129 of the upper knife 128 may be bevelled downwardly, whereas the cutting edge of the fixed lower knife blade 135 is bevelled upwardly. Thus, as the bar 127 is reciprocated, the cutting edges will overlap. Said cutting edges are inclined in opposite directions as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawing.

Means is provided to feed the rod 15a progressively between the knives so that predetermined lengths of rod will be cut during each revolution of the drive shaft 50 to form the filter pieces 15.

To this end there is attached to the web 107 a vertical plate 140 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) by means of bolts 141. Plate 140 has a top edge 142. Attached thereto as by screw 143 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a guide plate 144 formed with a through opening 145' through which rod 15a passes downwardly from any suitable supply. Rotatably mounted on plate 142 is a horizontal shaft 146. Fixed to the shaft 146 is a ratchet 147. Rotatably mounted on the shaft is one end of an arm 148. Pivoted to the arm 148 as at 149 is a pawl 150 engaging the teeth of the ratchet 147. The pawl is held in engagement with the ratchet by means of a spring 151 attached to the arm 148. As the arm 148 moves upwardly in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 7, pawl 150 will engage the teeth of the ratchet 147 to rotate said ratchet through a predetermined angle. The arm 148 is formed with a longitudinal slot 152. Slidably mounted on the arm 148 is a block 153. Block 153 is adjustable on the arm 148 by means of a screw 154 passing through the slot 152 and screwed to said block. Thus the block may be fixed to the arm 148 in any suitable position. Pivoted to the upper end of the block 153 as at 155 is one end of the connecting rod 156. The opposite end of the connecting mounted on the shaft 146 for rotation therewith and disposed rearwardly beyond the gear 161 is a roller 162. Pivoted to the plate 140 as at 163 is an arm 164 carrying a shaft 165. Mounted on the shaft 165 is a gear 166 aligned with and adapted to mesh with the gear 161. The gears 161 and 166 are similar. Also mounted on the shaft 165 is a roller 167 similar to the roller .162. The vertical axis of the opening 145 is between rollers 162, 167. A coil tension spring 169 interconnects the lower end of arm 164 with plate 148 to urge the arm 164 in a counterclockwise direction, looking at Fig. 7, to bring the roller 167 toward the roller 162 and to keep the gears or pinions 167 and 161 in meshing relation. Pivoted to plate 140 is a shaft 140a carrying a handle 14%. On shaft 1411a is a spreadin cam (not shown) contacting arm 164. When handle 14% is pulled down, arm 164 is swung away to relieve pressure of wheel 167 and to It will now be understood that the rod 15a passes through the opening and between rollers 162, 167. As the drive shaft rotates and arm 148 oscillates, the gears 161, 166 will rotate in opposite directions to progressively and intermittently feed the rod 15a downwardly below the rollers. The rod 15a is fed between the knife edges of the knives 128, 135.

Wall 110 of member 106 is formed with a threaded opening 170 (Fig. 9). Screwed thereto is the threaded end 171 of a fitting 172. Fitting 172 has an inlet nipple 173 at one side and a passage 174 communicating with said nipple. The opening 170 is located in alignment with the rod 15a and is at a level just below the lower knife 135. The nipple 173 receives one end of the conduit 105 (see Fig. 6). Thus air passing through the con duit 105 will pass through the passage 174 and threaded end portion 171 of the fitting 172 so that as the filter piece 15 is cut from rod 15a by movement of the knife 128 to the left (looking at Fig. 6) the air pressure will cause the severed filter piece to move down through a tube 176 attached to an opening 177 in the bottom wall of the groove 109. The hook 132 pulls the cut piece 15 into alignment with passage 170 when bar 127 is retracted.

Connected to the tube 176 is a tube 178 which passes beneath the casing 16 around to the opposite side of the casing and to one end of notch 93, at station 1. The air passing through the fitting 172 will thus blow the severed filter piece 15 through the tube 176 and conduit 178 into the mouthpiece of an empty cigarette tube in notch 93 of the turret at station 1.

Means is provided to prevent the filter piece 15 blown into the mouthpiece from passing into the tissue paper end ofthe cigarette tube. To this end there is attached to wall'19 of casing 16 a pivot holder 180 (Fig. 3) mounted in a countersunk opening 181 on said wall 19. Attached to the pivot holder 180 by means of bolt 182 is a bracket 183 (Figs. 3 and 4). Attached to the bracket by means of set screw 184 is a vertical pin 185 formed with a head 186 at its upper end. On the pin 185 are a pair of bushings 187 mounted within a vertical tubular portion 191 of crank 198. The upper end of the tubular portion 191 is countersunk to receive the head of pin 185. Extending from the lower end of the tube 191 is a boss 192 to which is fixed by means of set screws 193, a headed pin 194. On the pin 194 is a rounded follower 195 formed with a through opening through which the pin 194 passes. The follower 195 is received in the cam groove 164 of the disc 63 (Fig. 5). The disc 63 is formed with a peripheral gear 196.

It will now be understood that as the disc 63 is rotated with shaft 53, crank 198 will be oscillated in synchronism with the intermittent advance of the turret 86. Extending from the tubular portion 191 is an arm 197, see Figs. 3 and 4. At the outer end of arm 197 are a pair of bifurcated or spaced top and bottom ears 198 carrying a vertical pin 199 fixed thereto by set screws 2%. Between the ears 198 is a plate 281 formed with a slot 2112 receiving pin 199. Plate 201 is formed with a transverse horizontal through opening 203 at right angles to the vertical through slot 282. The plate 201 is furthermore horizontally slit as at 284 beyond the opening 203. Received within the opening 203 is one end of a horizontal rod 205. The slit portion of the plate 201 may be pressed together by a screw 207 so that one end of the rod 205 will be clamped to the plate 201.

Wall 19 is formed with a through opening 210 (Fig. 3) in which is received one end of a horizontal tube 211 extending at right angles to said wall. Within the ends of the tube 211 are bushings 212. Said rod 205 passes through bushing 212 to a point extending beyond the tube 211. The tube 211 is disposed above the turret and to the front side of its axis. Fixed to the outer end of rod "205 is a plate 213. Fixed to plate 213 as by bolt 214 is plate 215. Plate 215 is formed with through open- 7 ing in which is' received one end of hollow plunger tube 216 aligned with notch 93 at station 1. Also attached toplate' 215 is a stop rod 216a parallel to tube 216 and coextensive therewith but located at the level of station 2.

It will now be understood that as the crank 190 is oscillated, rod 205 will be reciprocated through bushings 212 and the hollow plunger tube 216 will be first moved into the tissue paper end of an empty cigarette tube in a notch 93 of the turret at station 1. Thereafter a filter piece 15' cut from the rod 15a will be blown through the conduit 178 directly into the mouthpiece end of the cigarette tube, the hollow tube 216 serving to prevent the filter piece moving into the tissue paper portion of the cigarette tube. Thereafter the tube 216 will be moved to the left, looking at Fig. 11, to withdraw the same from the cigarette tube and to permit the turret to move the cigarette tube with the filter piece 15 therein tostation 2 which requires one step in the intermittent movement of the turret. The tube 216 is hollow so that air blown through mouthpiece will pass through the tube 216 and will escape, so as not to be trapped in the cigarette tube. Nothing is done to the cigarette tube with the filter piece 15 therein at station 2. However, rod 216a prevents the filter piece from moving into the tissue paper tube at station 2. Rod 216a is retracted out of the cigarette tube at station 2 at the same time that rod 216 is retracted from the cigarette tube at station 1.

Means is provided, however, a station 3 to push the cigarette with the filter therein to the left onto a tobacco filling tube 220 so that a tobacco plug 221 may be pushed into the tube 220 to fill the tissue paper end of the cigarette tube with tobacco. Said filling tube 220 is fixed at one end to a plate 220a formed with a radial slot 220!) extending upwardly, said filling tube being formed with a longitudinal slot 2200 at the top aligned with saidradial slot.

To this end there is mounted on the bottom wall 21 of the casing (see Figs. 1 and 2) a pillow block 230 having a top portion 230a in which are mounted bushings 231 supporting a horizontal rotary shaft 232 parallel to the shaft 53. Extending from one end 232 is a reduced shaft 233 journalled in the bushings 2334 supported by a bearing portion 235 on the pillow block 230. Mounted 0191 the shaft end 233 is a gear 236 meshing with the gear 1 6.

Rotatably mounted on shaft 232 is a disc 240. Supported by openings 33. 40 and 34, 41 are a pair of parallel horizontal guide rods 241, 242 respectively. Slidably mounted'on said rods is a slider 243. Slider 243 is connected by a connecting rod 250 to the disc 2%.

Thus as the shaft 232 is rotated by reason of engagement of the gears 235 and 196, the slIder 243 will be reciprocated on the rods 241, 242. Slider 243 is formed at its left end, looking at Fig. 2, with a horizontal opening 251. Inserted in the opening 251 and fixed to the slider is one end of a rod 252 passing through bushing 32, to the exterior of the casing 16.

Mounted in the upper end of bar 253 is a short rod 253a adapted to enter the cigarette tube at station 2 to hold the filter piece from moving to the right, looking at Fig. 11. The filter piece is thus held in correct position at station 2 between rods 216a and 253a when the rod 252 moves to the left extreme position as shown in Fig. 11. Said bar 253 is mounted on the outer end of the rod 252.

Attached to the bar 253 is also a long rod 25 3 providedatits outer end with a pusher plate 255. Pusher 1 plate 255. is adapted to move. through. the notch 93 at station 3 while the turret is stationary to push the cigarette tube with the filter therein at station 3 to the left, looking at Fig. 11, onto the tobacco filling tube 223. The filling tube 22@ is stationary and may be mounted in any suitable manner and the tobacco plug 221 may be pushed thcrethrough in any suitable manner.

Means is provided to retract the cigarette tube on: the

filling tube 220 back into the notch 93- at station 3, as the pusher bar 254 is retracted. To this end there is pivoted to the slider 243 (Fig. 2) asat260 a clamp 261 formed with a through opening 262 in which is clamped one end of a tube 263. Tube 263 passes through the opening 27 in wall 19. Fixed to one end of tube 263 and extending therebeyond within casing 16, is a rod 264. Fixed within the opening 44 (Fig. 1) and the front wall 17 is a horizontal shaft or pin 265 (Figs. 1 and 2). Shaft 265 may be supported on fixed boss 266 within cash Iiti. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 265 is a bell crank 267. Said bell crank 267 comprises an intermediate tube 263 through which the pin 265 passes. Extending from one end of the tube 265 is an arm 269 to the outer end of which is pivoted as at 270 a tubular member 271 provided with a bushing 272 through which the rod passes. Extending from the opposite or rear end of tube 268 is an arm 273 (Fig. l) at the outer end of which is a follower 274 received in cam groove 275 in disc 240. As the disc 240 rotates, the bell crank 267 will be oscillated to rotate tube 263 and the rod 264 fixed thereto, about pivot 260. At the same time slider 243 recipro-cates so that the tube 263 has both a reciprocating movement and an oscillating movement. Fixed to the outer end of the tube 263 is an adapter 276 (Fig. 11). Fixed to the adapter 276 is a pin 277 having a downwardly extending end 273. The downwardly extending portion 278 of the pin 277 passes through the slot 2201) in a plate 220a fixed to the outer end of the filter tube 220. A cutter knife 281 in a vertical plane located just beyond the plate 22% is operated by any suitable means (not shown) to cut the plug 221 just beyond said plate 220a so as to leave a predetermined length of tobacco plug within the filling tube.

Thereafter the tube 263 is tilted in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 260 (Fig. 2) so that the lower end of the pin 278 will engage the cut tobacco plug within the cigarette adjacent its cut end. Thereafter the slider 243 moves to the right, thereby retracting the rod 252 and the pusher bar 254 and also thereby retracting the tube 263 and hence pin 278 to pull the cigarette otf the filling tube and back into the notch 93 at station 3 of the turret.

Attached to the plate 253 is a rod 284 provided at its left end with a plate 285 located opposite station 4 for pressing the cigarette at station 4 against any suitable plate to tamp the tobacco within the tissue paper portion of the cigarette. Also attached to the plate 253 is another small bar 286 from which extends a small headed pin 237 adapted to press the filter piece 15 at station 5 of the turret into the mouthpiece so as to prevent the filter piece and filtered tars from getting into the smokers mouth.

Means is provided to clamp the mouthpiece of the cigarette within the notch at station 1 to hold the cigarette steady while the filter piece 15 is being blown into the mouthpiece. To this end there is attached to the web 91 of the turret 86 (Figs. 11, 13, and 14) by means o bolts 290 and spacer sleeves 291, a plate 292 formed at its outer periphery with V-shaped teeth 293. The plate 292 is disposed at right angles to the axis of the turret and is located just beyond one edge thereof so as to be near the mouthpiece ends of the cigarettes on the turret.

Attached to the hub 25 of the side wall 19 is a ring 308. Attached to the ring 308 is a rod 295. Said rod may have a screw threaded stern 296 passing through an opening 297 in the ring 308. A nut'298 is screwed to the stern 296. Rod 295 carries a pivot pin 298'. Pivoted to the pin 298 is a lever 299. Lever 299 has an arm 300 provided with a pin 301 pressed into the grooves between the teeth 293 by a coil tension spring 302 connected at one end as at 303 to the lever, and at the other end as at 323a tothe ring. 308. Lever 299 has another arm 3% extending beyond the outer periphery of the a turret and carrying a pin 305. Mounted on the pin 305 is a clamp 306 having an inwardly curved surface 307. Surface 307 is adapted to grip the mouthpiece portion of the cigarette tube in station 1 so as to hold the tube steady while the filter piece 15 is being blown into said mouthpiece.

As the turret moves through one increment, pin 301 is' raised to move the clamp 306 upwardly. As the pin 301 snaps into the next groove on plate 292, the clamp 306 again comes down to engage the next cigarette tube'always at station 1.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention in some detail, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination a turret, means for intermittently rotating the turret through predetermined angles, said turret being provided with notches to receive cigarette tubes, each having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at the other end, and means at the mouthpiece ot the cigarette tubes and synchronized with the intermittent rotation of the turret to blow a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece end of each cigarette tube as each cigarette tube reaches a predetermined angular station in the rotation of the turret.

2. In combination a turret, means for intermittently rotating the turret through predetermined angles, said turret being provided with notches to receive cigarette tubes, each having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at the other end, and means at the mouthpiece ot the cigarette tubes and synchronized with the intermittent rotation of the turret to blow a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece end of each cigarette tube as each cigarette tube reaches a predetermined angular station in the rotation of the turret, and means to clamp the mouthpiece of the cigarette tube at said station.

3. In combination a turret, means for intermittently rotating the turret through predetermined angles, said turret being provided with notches to receive cigarette tubes, each having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at the other end, and means synchronized with the intermittent rotation of the turret to blow a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece end of each cigarette tube as each cigarette tube reaches a predetermined angular station in the rotation of the turret, a backing member, and means to move said backing member into the tissue paper end of the cigarette tube to prevent the filter piece from moving beyond the mouthpiece of the cigarette tube.

4. In combination -a turret, means for intermittently rotating the turret through predetermined angles, said turret being provided with notches to receive cigarette tubes, each having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at the other end, and means synchronized with the intermittent rotation of the turret to blow a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece end of each cigarette tube as each cigarette tube reaches a predetermined station in the rotation of the turret, a backing member and means to move said backing member into the tissue paper end of the cigarette tube to prevent the filter piece from moving beyond the mouthpiece of the cigarette tube; and means to clamp the mouthpiece of the cigarette tube at said station.

5. In a machine for making cigarettes having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at the other end, means for blowing a piece of filter material directly into the mouthpiece through the mouthpiece end of the cigi0 aret-te tube, and means inserted into the tissue paper end of the tube to prevent the filter piece from moving beyond the mouthpiece of said cigarette tube.

6. In a machine for making cigarettes having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at the other end, means for blowing a piece of filter material directly into the mouthpiece through the mouthpiece end of the cigaret-te tube, and means inserted into the tissue paper end of the tube to prevent the filter piece from moving beyond the mouthpiece of said cigarette tube, and means to clamp the mouthpiece end of the cigarette tube to hold it steady while the filter piece is being blown into said mouthpiece.

7. In combination, a turret formed at its outer periphery with a plurality of equiangular placed outwardly opening transverse notches, each adapted to receive therein a cigarette tube having a tubular mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube extending from the tubular mouthpiece, means to intermittently rotate said turret to suecessively bring each notch past a predetermined station, an air conduit having its outlet end adjacent the mouthpiece end of the notch at said station, means synchronized with the operation of the turret to cut filter pieces from a rod of filter material and to blow a cut filter piece through said conduit directly into the mouthpiece end of the tube at said station while the turrent is stationary.

8. In combination, a turret formed at its outer periphery with a plurality of equiangular placed outwardly opening transverse notches, each adapted to receive therein a cigarette tube having a tubular mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube extending from the tubular mouthpiece, means to intermittently rotate said turret to suc cessively bring each notch past a predetermined station, an air conduit having its outlet end adjacent the mouthpiece end of the notch at said station, means synchronized with. the operation of the turret to cut filter pieces from a rod of filter material and to blow a cut filter piece through said conduit directly into the mouthpiece end of the tube at said station while the turret is stationary, a member mounted for reciprocation on the axis of a cigarette tube in the notch of the turret at said station, and means synchronized with the operation of the turret to move said member into the tissue paper end of the cigarette tube at said station while the turret is stationary and prior to the blowing of the filter piece into the mouthpiece of the cigarette tube at said station so as to bring one end of said member substantially to the mouthpiece end of the cigarette tube whereby to prevent the filter piece blown into said mouthpiece from moving beyond the mouthpiece.

9. The combination of claim 8, and said member comprising a hollow tube so that the air blowing the filter piece into the mouthpiece may pass into the mouthpiece and escape.

10. The combination of claim 8, and said reciprocating means further comprising means to withdraw said member from said cigarette tube prior to the rotation of the turret.

11. In a device for making cigarettes having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at its other end, means for inserting a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece through the mouthpiece end of the cigarette, a backing member, and means for inserting said backing member into the tissue paper end of the cigarette through said tissue paper end to prevent the filter piece from moving beyond the mouthpiece.

12. In a device for making cigarettes having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at its other end, means for inserting a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece through the mouthpiece end of the cigarette, a backing member, means for inserting said backing member into the tissue paper end of the cigarette through said tissue paper end to prevent the filter piece from moving beyond the mouthpiece, and means for clamping the mouthpiece end of the cigarette while the filter piece is being inserted thereinto.

13. In a device for making cigarettes having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at its other end, means for inserting a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece through the mouthpiece end of the cigarette, a backing member, means for inserting said member into the tissue paper end of the cigarette through said tissue paper end to prevent the filter piece from moving beyond the mouthpiece, means for clamping the mouthpiece end of the cigarette while the filter piece is being inserted thereinto, and means for removing said member from the tissue paper end of the cigarette.

14. The method of making a cigarette having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at the other end, comprising blowing a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece through the mouthpiece end of the cigarette tube, and depositing tobacco directly into the tissue paper end of the tube.

15. The method of making a cigarette having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at the other end, comprising blowing a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece through the mouthpiece end of the cigarette tube, depositing tobacco directly into the tissue paper end of the tube, and clamping the mouthpiece end of the tube while the filter is inserted thereinto.

16. The method of making a cigarette comprising blowing a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece end of a cigarette tube having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at its other end, clamping the mouthpiece end of the tube while the filter is inserted thereinto, and placing a barrier in the tissue paper end of the tube to prevent the filter from being blown past the mouthpiece.

17. In a machine for making cigarettes employing cigarette tubes each having a tubular mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tubular portion at the other end, a turret mounted for rotation, said turret being formed at its periphery with transverse open notches to receive said cigarette tubes, said notches being equiangularly spaced on the turret, means to intermittently rotate said turret through angles equivalent to the angles between adjacent notches, a rod mounted for reciprocation parallel to the axis of said turret, means synchronized with the intermittent rotation of said turret to reciprocate said rod, a plunger fixed for movement with said rod, said plunger being disposed parallel to said rod and adapted to enter into the tissue paper tubular portion of the cigarette tube in a notch of the turret located at a predetermined angular position, and to be withdrawn from s id tissue paper tubular portion as said rod is reciprocated, an air conduit leading to the entrance of the mouthpiece end of said cigarette tube on the turret at said angular position. means synchronized with the operation of the turret for intermittently blowing air through said conduit, and means synchronized with the operation of the turret for feeding filter pieces to said conduit so that the filter pieces are blown through the conduit in synchronizm with the operation of the turret and said rod.

18. The combination of claim 17 in combination with a fixed frame and clamping means mounted on said fixed frame for clamping the mouthpiece of each cigarette tube as said cigarette tube reaches said angular position.

19. In combination a turret, means for intermittently rotating the turret through predetermined angles, said turret being provided with notches to receive cigarette tubes, each having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at the other end, and means synchronized With the intermittent rotation of the turret to blow a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece end of each cigarette tube as each cigarette tube reaches a predetermined angular station in the rotation of the turret, means inserted into the tissue paper tube end of the cigarette tube at said station to prevent said filter piece from moving into the tissue paper tube end of said cigarette tube, and means insertable into opposite ends of the cigarette tube at a subsequent angular station to prevent-the filter piece from moving relative to the cigarette tube in either direction.

20. The combination of claim 19, a fixed tobacco filling tube having a plug of tobacco projecting therein and means at still a further subsequent angular station to push the cigarette tube at said tube at said further subsequent station longitudinally of the axis of the turret onto said fixed tobacco filling tube so that part of the tobacco plug enters the tissue paper tube end of the cigarette tube.

21. The combination of claim 19, a fixed tobacco filling tube having a plug of tobacco projecting therein and means at still a further subsequent angular station to push the cigarette tube at said further subsequent station longitudinally of the axis of the turret onto said fixed tobacco filling tube so that part of the tobacco plug enters the tissue paper tube end of the cigarette tube, means for cutting the plug just beyond the cigarette tube, and means for retracting the cigarette tube with the cut tobacco plug therein onto the turret.

22. The combination of claim 19, a fixed tobacco filling tube having a plug of tobacco projecting therein and means at still a further subsequent angular station to push the cigarette tube at said further subsequent station longitudinally of the axis of the turret onto said fixed tobacco filling tube so that part of the tobacco plug enters the tissue paper tube end of the cigarette tube, means for cutting the plug just beyond the cigarette tube, means for retracting the cigarette tube with the cut tobacco plug therein onto the turret, and means insertable into the mouthpiece end of the cigarette tube at a still further subsequent station, to recess the filter away from the other end of the mouthpiece.

23. In a machine for making cigarettes from cigarette tubes each having a mouthpiece tubular portion at one end and a tissue paper tubular portion at its other end, means for inserting a filter directly into the mouthpiece portion through the mouthpiece end of the cigarette tube, means removably inserted into the tissue paper tubular portion of the cigarette tube to prevent the filter from moving into the tissue paper tubular portion of the cigarette tube, means inserted into the mouthpiece end of the cigarette tube to prevent the filter inserted into the mouthpiece portion of the cigarette tube from moving toward the outer end of said mouthpiece portion, and means for depositing tobacco into the tissue paper tubular portion of said cigarette tube.

24. In a machine for making cigarettes from cigarette tubes each having a mouthpiece tubular portion at one end and a tissue paper tubular portion at its other end, means for inserting a filter directly into the mouthpiece portion through the mouthpiece end of the cigarette tube, means removably inserted into the tissue paper tubular portion of the cigarette tube to prevent the filter from moving into the tissue paper tubular portion of the cigarette tube, means inserted into the mouthpiece end of the cigarette tube to prevent the filter inserted into the mouthpiece portion of the cigarette tube from moving toward the outer end of said mouthpiece portion, means for depositing tobacco into the tissue paper tubular portion of said cigarette tube, and means for clamping the mouthpiece portion of the cigarette tube while the filter is inserted therein.

25. In a device for making cigarettes having a mouthpiece at one end and a tissue paper tube at its other end, means for inserting a filter piece directly into the mouthpiece through the mouthpiece end of the cigarette, a backing member, means for inserting said member into the tissue paper end of the cigarette through said tissue paper end to prevent the filter piece from moving beyond the mouthpiece, means for clamping the mouthpiece end of the cigarette while the filter piece is being inserted thereinto, means for removing said member from the tissue paper end of the cigarette, and means for depositing tobacco directly into the tissue paper end of the cigarette.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hohn Apr. 1, 1930 Edwards July 24, 1934 5 Edwards Jan. 28, 1936 Seeley Jan. 19, 1943 Gamble May 20, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 

